Temperatures are rising, the layers of clothes are coming off and the beach is calling your name. There’s no better time to discuss the importance of using sunblock than now. As great as a tanned complexion looks, the appearance and health of your skin won’t be as great in the long run. Too much exposure to UVA and UBA rays makes the skin rough and leathery. Constant exposure makes your skin uneven and gives you dark spots (Especially on your face).

If the toll it takes on your appearance doesn’t bug you, then at least consider your health. There are 3.5 million cases of skin cancer reported every year. One in five Americans develop some form of it. Put the baby oil down and opt for a higher SPF this year. Don’t get fooled by waterproof products either. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be a re-applying, at least every four or five hours.

Don’t neglect your hair from getting the proper sun damage protection. All that styling, blow-drying, hot rollers, flat irons and countless other things we experiment with takes a toll. Damage from the sun is another harm we must save it from. There are products created specifically to recover the hair from daily exposures. Aveeda has a Sun Care Kit that contains a masque, everyday serum protector, and cleanser for your hair. For those who color their hair use a shampoo and conditioner designed color preservance. This will prevent the color from fading.

Once you learn to incorporate sun protection into your everyday routine it won’t be a burden. Get in the habit of applying a moisturizer with SPF. Just because you don’t feel the heat doesn’t mean the rays aren’t hitting you. That goes for the wintertime as well. Keep your lips smooth and kissable. Choose a lip balm with an SPF 15 or higher.

Never did I imagine a life saving lip gloss would exist. 2LoveMyLips has created a lip gloss that can detect GHBand Ketamine, two popular drugs used for date rape. The lip gloss is a little bit of a drug testing kit in a tube. It brings a card with it that you can break up into smaller pieces to dip in your drink. If it turns blue it means it has detected traces of either GHB or Ketamine. Unfortunately the gloss doesn’t detect other popular date rape drugs like Rohypnol (roofies). Although this isn’t something that will protect women entirely from such a disgusting act, it can give a sense of security and help prevent them from harm.

2LoveMyLips has taken a step towards combining beauty and safety. The glosses come in 5 different colors and are sold in Europe for £9. They can also be ordered from 2LoveMyLips website and retails for about $11.

We all have those days. The days where you roll out of bed after a restless night, or rush to get ready because you missed your alarm. Sometimes you need a little more than coffee to wake you up. When all else fails try something from our list. Or try them all. They’re simple things you can add to your morning routine that will take no more than one or two minutes top. Dark circles are the toughest part to deal with. Once you cover those bad boys, the rest is simple. Using a thicker cream based concealer works best. Blend it well with you fingertips before applying foundation.N.Y.C cosmetics has called Cover Sticks. It’s in a shape of a lipstick tube and works wonders for only $1.99.

One of the easiest eye openers can be achieved by using an eyelash curler.E.L.F. has them for only $1. See it for yourself. Curl the lashes on one eye and compare it to the eye who’s lashes you didn’t curl. Having curled lashes opens eyes instantly. Another simple trick you can try includes using white eyeliner. Line the bottom part of your lower lids. Finally one of the oldest tricks in the book, use mascara. Pick one that’s meant for lengthening the lashes. Longer lashes means brighter, wide awake eyes.

Good products don’t have to cost us an arm and a leg. While the aisles at Sephora and other beauty counters are filled with promising makeup, sometimes a more affordable product will do the trick. E.L.F. is one of the best kept secrets in the beauty industry. E.L.F., which stands for Eye Face Lips, of make-up and bath and body products. All of the make-up and brushes range from $1 to $3. It’s a well worth steal. You get quality cosmetics at an insanely low price.

Here are my top 5 E.L.F. products:

Eyelid Primer, $1- Primers help keep make up in place and avoid smudging.

Liquid Eye Liner in Pearl, $1- I prefer liquid liner because it doesn’t smudge and stays put exactly where I line it. E.L.F. has a color called Pearl. It’s black with a tiny bit of shimmer in it. It takes the dull black up a notch.

Eyelash Curler, $1- This is a make-up bag must have. And at only a $1 there are no excuses not to own one.

Hypershine Gloss, $1- This lip gloss not only moisturizes, but leaves you lips shinny for hours.

Make-up Removing Cleansing Cloths, $3- Washing your face daily is essential,especially if you’ve been wearing make-up. For those really late nights, wipe your make-up off with one of these wipes. It’ll prevent future breakouts.

Visit, EyeLipsFace and browse through all my favorites. I’m sure you’ll have a list of your own soon. E.L.F. products can also be found at Target stores.

Stains are no longer considered a pain. Well, not all stains anyways. Lip and cheek stains have become a time saving creation. We’re living in fast paced times, where instant gratification is preferred and there is no time for re-applying make up. If you’re looking to achieve that “just pinched my cheeks look”, TARTE‘s cheek stain will do it for you. It contains no alcohol, paraben, and doesn’t dry your skin out. Benefit‘s BENETINT is another cheek tint, and actually looks like nail polish.

Let’s not forget our lips. Lipstick can be hard to pull off especially when you’re not used to wearing any at all. However, it’s safe to say you can put your lip gloss down and try a lip stain. It’s sort of like the “training bra” for lipstick. CoverGirl’s Outlast Lip Stain comes in a variety of pinks, red, and corals.

Why not save money and try your hands at both at the same time. JOSIE MARAN has a Magic Marker Lip and Cheek Stain. Honestly, who doesn’t love a two for one deal? When applying the cheek and lip stains make sure to do it gradually and you’ll learn how much or little you like to have on.

Victoria’s Secret Beauty line has grown tremendously. I for one can’t leave the store without something new. Just the way the season’s change, I like to vary the perfume I use. Whether you want a sexy fragrance for a hot date, a summery mist, or something you can just throw in your purse, VS has got it.

Heavenly Flowers is a limited edition sheer fragrance that smells like summer. Coconut Passion from the Secret Garden Collection is another delicious scent. These are great for those really hot days or the trips to the beach. They aren’t too overpowering and last all day.

For something a little more seductive why not try one of the, appropriately titled, Very Sexy scents. Another addicting smell is the Super Model perfume. You will for sure leave a lasting impression on your date with that one. If you can’t choose just one, they offer travel sizes and roller balls also. They’re great for long trips and fit perfectly in your purse.

I recently shared with you guys my goal to stop washing my hair everyday. It’s doing more damage than actually making my hair look good. The dry shampoos I’ve tried haven’t cut it and led me to the continued routine of washing my hair constantly. I got the opportunity to try Batiste’s Dry Shampoo and I have to say, I’ve fallen in love. It’s been three days now and I have not washed my hair. Which is amazing since I have really fine oily hair that starts to look oily the day after its been washed. I’ve had work, finals at school, and attended the gym and my hair still looks great. (Tip: When headed to the gym apply the dry shampoo before starting your work out as well as afterwards).

Batiste Dry Shampoo is affordable and worth it at only $7.99 for the full size and $3.99 for the “on the go” travel size. Whether you use the Original scent or Blush (which smells great, like perfume for your hair), you won’t be disappointed with the results.

Almay has named Kate Hudson their newest spokeswoman. Almay will be debuting the new line, at their Rainforest Concert in Carnegie Hall tonight. O to be one of those lucky guests getting a sneak preview at the new line.

Kate isn’t the only new face in Beauty. Leighton Meester is the new face of Herbal Essence. Julie Marchant-Houle, marketing director for Herbal Essences said, “We are thrilled that someone as vibrant and talented as Leighton has joined Herbal Essences. Leighton epitomizes the Herbal Essences Girl — a modern free spirit: daring, witty and who loves to explore her style opportunities and make the most of her look every day”. We couldn’t agree more.

Lancôme has chosen Penelope Cruz as their newest face, and she’ll be behind their Tresor Perfume.

Coloring your hair at home can be sort of stressful. For first timers it’s best to see a professional about it. You don’t want to walk away with pink hair, unless that’s what you were aiming for. Once you hit the hair aisle don’t get overwhelmed. You might know what color you’re looking for, but there’s also a ton of brands to choose from. I get great results from Clairol’s Nice n’ Easy every time. You don’t just get a beautiful application of color, but it wont look like just one dull shade thanks to the built in highlights.

I’m constantly searching for a magical product that’s going to my hair outrageous volume and shine. Many products have failed me, and that’s why I was so excited to give Living Proof, Full Thickening Cream, a try. You simply massage about a quarter size to your roots and leave it in for about five minutes. Then after rinsing, style your hair as usual. I have very fine hair, and am cautious about products that leave my hair oily. The results were noticeable. My hair was soft, healthier, and you could see more lift in it. It did feel a little thick, which is something I’m not used to feeling. However, the best part was how GREAT it left my hair smelling.

You can’t have gorgeous hair without shine. If there’s one thing I love more than face serums, its hair serum. Avon’s Advance Techniques Dry End Serum is another great smelling product. It tames fly aways, while smoothing and repairing dry ends. This is a must have for those who color their hair. John Frieda’s Frizz-Ease collection is dedicated to making hair look healthier. The 100% Shine Glossing Mist, adds shine in a spray form. It’s great for fine hair, because it’s a non-greasy formula.